Local Girl Scouts return from trip of a lifetime

Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Service Unit 30 Older Girls recently returned from their European journey. A total of 18 girls plus three adult chaperones representing troops from Sussex, Kent and New Castle counties in Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and central New Jersey, spent 15 days touring Europe. The girls ranged in age from 14 to 17 years old. They traveled to the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Italy, and visited 10 cities: London, Zurich, Adelboden, Lucerne, Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Assisi and Rome, and two World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Centers: Pax Lodge in London and Our Chalet in Switzerland.

In addition to visiting all of the major tourist sites, the girls spent time hiking in the Swiss Alps; meeting other Girl Scouts; practicing their Italian, German and French (all three languages are spoken in Switzerland); trying new foods; walking a 15-day combined total of over 100 miles during their trip; participating in special Girl Scout pinning ceremonies at both World Centers; and having the time of their lives.

"This truly was a trip of the lifetime for the girls," said Janet Maher, group leader. "For some girls this may be their one and only trip to Europe. Several of the girls on the trip had never been on a airplane, so a seven-hour flight to London was quite a first-flight experience."

The girls on the trip have been working hard for the last four years to fundraise to pay for the trip. With the cost of the trip being over $4,500 per girl, they not only sold cookies but washed cars, ran concession stands, flocked flamingos, worked part-time jobs and did whatever they could to make this trip happen.

"The girls would like to thank the community for their support over the last several years. A special thanks goes out to everyone in the area who participated in our Flock Your Friends fundraiser," said Rebecca Lowe, group co-leader. "Over three summers of moving flamingos from yard to yard, the girls raised over $8,000 toward their total."

The trip started as a promise and a challenge 12 years ago to a group of Daisy Girl Scouts to remain active in the organization through their senior year of high school. And for the original five Girl Scouts, the journey continues as those young women have already organized a 10-year reunion of the trip. To keep the dream alive of travel abroad for other young Girl Scouts, they have all volunteered to go as chaperones on the next trip being planned for 2019.

"This is what Girl Scouting is all about, having the opportunity to do absolutely anything they set their minds to and accomplishing their goals, then paying it forward and giving back to the organization, by remaining active as adults and sharing their love for the organization to a new generation of girls," said Maher. "I am so proud of these young women and all they have accomplished. They are the leaders of tomorrow, and I am honored to have been a part of their lives for the last 12 years."

For more information on how to become a Girl Scout or a Girl Scout volunteer, contact Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council at 302-456-7150 or go to www.gscb.org.